ACT Act

Discrimination Act 1991 (ACT)

Discrimination Act 1991 sets local discrimination and equal opportunity rules in ACT.

In forceACT4 practical checks

Plain-English explainers, not legal advice. Check the linked official source before you rely on a specific section, and get advice for your situation.

Get legal help

Start here

Quick read

Discrimination Act 1991 is relevant beyond HR.
It can affect recruitment, workplace conduct, harassment, reasonable adjustments, customer access, service refusal, accommodation, premises and complaint handling.

Likely relevant if

Employers, landlords and service providers operating in ACT
Businesses hiring, managing, promoting or dismissing staff
Customer-facing businesses providing goods, services, venues or accommodation

Check first

Avoid discriminatory decisions in hiring, rostering, promotion, dismissal and customer access.
Train managers on harassment, victimisation, reasonable adjustments and complaint escalation.
Document legitimate business reasons for sensitive decisions.

What happens if you get it wrong

Penalties & enforcement

Risks include complaints, tribunal or court orders, compensation, enforceable changes to policies, reputational harm and management time spent in disputes.

Enforced by ACT Human Rights Commission and ACAT

When this shows up in real life

1
Hiring staff
Use job requirements that match the role, avoid prohibited questions and keep interview notes focused on skills and availability.
2
Handling a harassment complaint
Act quickly, keep the process fair, protect the complainant from victimisation and document each step.
3
Refusing customer service
Check whether the reason could relate to a protected attribute and whether staff have been trained on lawful refusal and safety escalation.

Plain-English glossary

Protected attribute: A characteristic protected by discrimination law, such as sex, race, disability, age or other attributes depending on the jurisdiction.
Victimisation: Treating a person badly because they made, supported or may make a discrimination complaint.
Reasonable adjustment: A practical change to help a person with disability participate, unless the law allows refusal because of unjustifiable hardship or another exemption.

Common questions

Is this separate from federal discrimination law?

Yes. State and territory discrimination laws can sit alongside Commonwealth laws. A single complaint can raise more than one regime.

Does this apply to customers as well as staff?

Often yes. Discrimination laws commonly cover employment and the provision of goods, services, accommodation or access to premises.

How Sprintlaw can help

Employment Contract Regulatory Compliance

Start here

Quick read

Discrimination Act 1991 is relevant beyond HR.
It can affect recruitment, workplace conduct, harassment, reasonable adjustments, customer access, service refusal, accommodation, premises and complaint handling.

Likely relevant if

Employers, landlords and service providers operating in ACT
Businesses hiring, managing, promoting or dismissing staff
Customer-facing businesses providing goods, services, venues or accommodation

Check first

Avoid discriminatory decisions in hiring, rostering, promotion, dismissal and customer access.
Train managers on harassment, victimisation, reasonable adjustments and complaint escalation.
Document legitimate business reasons for sensitive decisions.

When this shows up in real life

1
Hiring staff
Use job requirements that match the role, avoid prohibited questions and keep interview notes focused on skills and availability.
2
Handling a harassment complaint
Act quickly, keep the process fair, protect the complainant from victimisation and document each step.
3
Refusing customer service
Check whether the reason could relate to a protected attribute and whether staff have been trained on lawful refusal and safety escalation.

Plain-English glossary

Protected attribute: A characteristic protected by discrimination law, such as sex, race, disability, age or other attributes depending on the jurisdiction.
Victimisation: Treating a person badly because they made, supported or may make a discrimination complaint.
Reasonable adjustment: A practical change to help a person with disability participate, unless the law allows refusal because of unjustifiable hardship or another exemption.

Common questions

Is this separate from federal discrimination law?

Yes. State and territory discrimination laws can sit alongside Commonwealth laws. A single complaint can raise more than one regime.

Does this apply to customers as well as staff?

Often yes. Discrimination laws commonly cover employment and the provision of goods, services, accommodation or access to premises.

Discrimination Act 1991 (ACT)

Start here

What happens if you get it wrong

When this shows up in real life

Plain-English glossary

Common questions

Related topics

How Sprintlaw can help

Discrimination Act 1991 (ACT)

Start here

What happens if you get it wrong

When this shows up in real life

Plain-English glossary

Common questions

Related topics

How Sprintlaw can help